Glass fiber drawing apparatus



1955 J. F. COURTNEY ETAL 2,700,253

GLASS FIBER DRAWING APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1951 "INVENTVORS JOSEPH F.COURTNEY ADELBERT c. RADTKE ATT'Y United States Patent GLASS "FIBERFDRAWING APPARATUS Joseph F. T Courtney, Evanston, and Adelbert Radtke,Oak Park, 111., assignors to -"International Harvester Company, acorporationofiNew Jersey Application July 1 2, 1951,"-Serial No. 236,4151-6 Claims. (6.49 17 adversely affectthe 'quality'o'f the product; Ageneral obj ct of the inventionis to devise adrawing as'sembly'whichobtains the rec'luired drawing rate while grasping the' material lightlyalong-lengthy'sinuous surfaces.

A more specific object isto'design a drawing apparatus incorporatinga-pair of opposed rolls withresilient or flexible 'surfac eareaswhichareadapted'to assume'an undulant contour when subjected tocentrifugal forces 'mrsuant torotat ion of the rolls to grasp thematerial therebetween.

The invention further contemplates a novel distribution of the rnassofthe peripheral portions of'the. rolls'to effect varyingradial-"displacement by centrifugal force. of the specificmasses wherebyto obtain an'undulant' contouring ofthe grasping s'urfacesof the rolls.

' More particularly the invention. contemplates alternating segments oflighter and "heavier masses about the: periphery in a=medium of'fleXible*-materia1-whereby the heavier masses willbebu'lgedradi'allyoutwardly farther than the'lighter masses'to provideasubstantially'sinusoid'al' surface'prdfile. g

Theseand other objects of the invention will" become more apparent fromthe specification and thedrawings, wherein: I

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation'al"view"of"one; form of theinvention with enviro'n'm'ental components shown diagrammatically.

Figure -2is 'a"' radial cross sectional view taken substantiallyon.theline2'-'2 of Figure 1,"an'd K I Figure 3 is a fragmentarysideelevationahview of anotherfo'rm of the invention. H

Describing the' invention indetail and "referring first to theembodimentshown in Figure 1, the furnace 2 which contains 'molten"glass "has 1a'plate' 4 at thebotto'm thereof provided- With a plurality of'ape'rtured dependingffrustoconical bosses'*6,"6' through which-themolten glass is adapted: to flow *to form inverted" conesof molten glasswhich upon initiation of the drawing process flowjgravie tationally toform a plurality of coarse aments'8 ,;8, said filaments being initiallygathered by an operator and trained "over an applicator' assembly whichis adapted-v to apply to each= filament a suitable coating-preferablyof, thermol-plastic or 'thermosetting" types. The coatedfilameritsare-converged into ag'r'oove' 12' of'algathering element'or'--sheave---14 "wherel'ay the filaments are "compacted andassociat'ed into a strand "preferably 'while' the coatings. thereon arein an adherent state "whereby the Coatings may oalesce and form aunitary strand. i

The strand716iis entered betweena pairof'substantially identical drawingelements generally designated 1-8,-1'8 which areadapted to grasp thestrand and imposea pulling force' thereon thereby attenuating-thefilaments 8, 8 to attain desired characteristics. -Each element 18comprises. an. annular 'disc or structure 20 which is keyed to adr'iying," shaft 22. The outer periphery of the structure zll coniprisesarim' towhich is. bonded a circumset ingfannulus'f 26 which is formed-ofa-flcwable flexible; mitterialfpreferably sottmubber orother substancebarging 2,700,253 -Patented Jan. 25, 1.955

.ferentially spaced apertures 28, 28 whicharelocatedfprefe'rablyce'ntrallyintermediate the inner andfouter margins thereof and withineach aperture is-disposed atrod 30 which is formed of material havinggreater density :than. that. of surrounding portions of thc'annulus 26.The: rods 30, which may be cylindrical steel shapes, havecomplementary'fit within the openings'28 "and 'arepreferably fitted intoa mold while the annulus is: castitherearound to bind therewith. I I

It will be appreciated 'that centrifugal forces "developed {pursuant torotation of the members 1-8"a.n'd the flexible characteristics of theannulus .26of each thereof causes the annulus to expand radially"outwardly'whereby due to the differences in the densities of the rodsand the adjacent sections of"the'annulus,'the outer surface 32 ofthea'nnulus is caused'toassume'anundulant or scalloped contour as shownin phantomlines which-provides a substantiallysinusoidal grippingsurface for-engaging the-strand. In otherwords, theportionsofthe-annulus in radial alignment withtheheavier' masses will be bulgedout farther elongated more than thoseinter: mediate the masses therebyforming alternating crests and valleys. Thearrangementof the opposeddrawing rollers is' such that at the grasping area of the rolls, thecrest'of each roll is-meshed with a valley of the opposingroll" wherebythe" strand which is gripped between the adjacent sections of the rollsis caused to sinuate 'therebe'tween whereby an effective lightgrip isobtained onthe strand alon'g a relativelyextensive lengththere'ofwhile'a pulling force is 'imposed'on the strand pursuant. tothe-'rotatiomo'f the'rolls. It wilFbeappreciated' that thefrictionalgripdue to'this'interlockingof the'stran'd with therolls is accentuate'd andthatthe concentration of forcesat a p'oiht or line contact on thestrand, which isextremely destructive, is entirel'y eliminated. Itwillbe noted that'the members '18, 18' are, in static position, spacedapart :so that' aninitial length of'the' strand may besafely'positio'nedby the operator'between the rollsprior to-'ener-'gizingthe" same.

"Referring now to the embodiment 'shownin Figure 3, the drawing meansgenerally designated100, comprises apair'of substantially identical'opposed'ro1ls'102,'102- driven through 'shafts '104, 'I04"keyedthereto, eachroll orwheol including a metallic preferably,steel,.disc"with' a cylindrical rirn '106 'circumscribed by a composite'flexi'ble' annulus generally designated" 1'08. The annulus 108 iscomposed 'ofa'resilie'nt fiow'able materialcomprising an'outer'ring'110such as softrubber with anihnersec'tion or 'ring '112 fo'rrned ofharder dur'ometer ruhber'or the like a'nd of higher density thantheri'ng '1'1'0. 'Ihe'ring 1'121 s -f'ormedwith' a cylindrical innersurfaceiillwwhi'ch isibonded'to the complementary outer side of the rim1.66. The outer periphery of the ring 112 is of scallop-like,wavysinusoidalcontour wherebythe ring 112*is formed withmaplurality oflobes 116, 116' w'ith' intervening depressions' llS. The inner'face ofthe outer segment or the annulus 108 has 'a' complementary profile tothe-outer face 'at'theflsegment 1'12 and is vulcanized thereto. 'Inactual practicethe inner and outer rings are'cast to'eaeh other. Theouter surface of each segment or ring"-110 is cylindrical" under staticconditions. It will be readily appreciatedthat' thecharacteristics ofthemass or'radial elongationof alternating segments'of the annulus' '108are-varied and that due to this condition and the centrifugalforce the"radial displacement of thealternating section's vary. This modifies thenormally cylindrical outer'surface of each section 110 anddefiects'theannulus" so that said outer surface is caused to assume ascalloplike'onsinusoidal contour as shown in phantomli'nesin.thedrawings whereby at'the-grasping sectiomof the rolls,

the" strand which passes therebetween is caused to {be centrifugalforcex expands theX-annuli'108 'su'fiici'entlywo" cause engagementtherebetween at the grasping' zone"of 3 the mechanism 100. It will benoted wheels 102, 102 are also arranged that the expanded and undulantouter surfaces of the annulus of each will mate with each other.

The expanded condition of each annulus is substantially as shown inFigures 1 and 3 in phantom lines.

What is claimed is:

1. In a material attenuating apparatus, a pair of annular, rotatable,opposed grasping members each having an imperforate, flexible,peripheral continuous annulus characterized by a predetermined varyingmass distribution and under static conditions having a substantiallycylindrical outer face, the variations in the mass effecting unequalexpansion of the annulus during rotation thereof whereby distorting thecylindrical contour of the outer face thereof to provide an undulantcontact area with the material adapted to be engaged by the face.

i 2. In a material attenuating apparatus, a pair of opposed annularmembers rotatable on generally parallel axes, each member having a solidradially and circumferentially continuous peripheral flexible annuluswith an outer statically generally annular face, certain segments of theannulus being alternated with and formed and arranged to displaceradially outwardly farther than others thereof under the influence ofcentrifugal force whereby distorting said face to scallop-like contourto provide curved grasping areas for interlocking contact with thematerial passing between the members.

a 3. In a fiber attenuating apparatus, a pair of opposed annular membersrotatable on generally parallel axes and adapted to receive the fibertherebetween for grasping and drawing the same, each member having atleast a peripheral annulus formed of soft rubbery substance, saidsubstance having material of higher density bonded thereto and disposedinwardly of the outer fiber grasping surface thereof and formed andarranged to control outward bulging of the rubber whereby distortingsaid surface to undulant contour when said members are rotated andthereby causing fiber entered between said members to be engaged alongcurving areas.

In fiber attenuating apparatus, a pair of opposed, rotatable annularmembers spaced apart under static conditions and disposed to definea gapfor receiving fiber adapted to be entered therebetween, each memberbeing formed at least about its periphery of flexible, resilientmaterial to provide an unbroken outer grasping surface, certain segmentsof the material having greater mass than and alternatedcircumferentially of the member with the remaining segments of thematerial whereby during rotation of each member, said material is causedto expand centrifugally with the segments of greater mass displacedfarther radially outwardly than said remaining segments thereby changingthe contour of said surface to assume a substantially sinusoidal profileadapted to engage the fiber, and means for rotating said members inprofile interfitting relationship with each other at contiguous regionsto close said gap and establish a grasping zone on the fiber fohfflecting sinuation and interlocking engagement therew1 5. In fiberattenuating apparatus, opposed, rotatable, resilient drawing elementsadapted for grasping contact with fiber entered therebetween, eachelement having a plurality of circumferentially spaced sections intercalated with and of different mass characteristics than the sectionstherebetween and formed and arranged to displace under centrifugal forceradially outwardly farther than said sections therebetween to form acorrugated outer surface adapted for interlocking engagement with thefiber, and a band of flexible material of substantial thickness aboutthe periphery of each element constituting said second-mentionedsections and of substantially constant characteristics throughout itslength said firstmentioned sections being embedded in said band ofmaterial.

6. In a fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable element having at leasta peripheral band formed of continuous, flexible, resilient materialwith regularly circumferentially spaced segments of predeterminedsubstantially identical mass characteristics intercalated with and ofdifferent mass characteristics than the sections therebetween and formedand arranged to displace under centrifugal force radially outwardlyfarther than said sections therebetween to form a corrugatedfiber-engaging outer surface, said segmentsbeing formed of materialhaving a higher density than said sections.

that the drawing I 7. In afiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatableelement 7 having at. least a peripheral band formed of continuous,

flexible, resilient material with regularly circumferentially spacedsegments of predetermined substantially identical mass characteristicsintercalated with and of different mass characteristics than thesections therebetween and formed and arranged todisplace undercentrifugal force radially outwardly farther than said sectionstherebetween to form a corrugated fiber-engaging outer surface, saidsegments being formed of material having higher density than saidsections and being confined wholly between the inner and outerperipheries of the element.

8. In a fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable element having at leasta peripheral band formed of continuous, flexible, resilient materialwith regularly circumferentially spaced segments of predeterminedsubstantially identical mass characteristics intercalated with and ofdifferent mass characteristics than the sections therebetween and formedand arranged to displace under centrifugal force radially outwardlyfarther than said sections therebetween to form a corrugatedfiber-engaging outer surface, said segments being entirely isolated fromone another and being floatingly supported by said band of material.

9. In a fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable element having at leasta peripheral band formed of continuous,- flexible, resilient materialwith regularly circumferentially spaced segments of predeterminedsubstantially identical. mass characteristics intercalated with and ofdifferent mass characteristics than the sections therebetween and formedand arranged to displace under centrifugal force radially outwardlyfarther than said sections therebetween to form a corrugatedfiber-engaging outer surface, said segments being substantiallycylindrical inserts within said material.

10. A rotatable material attenuating wheel having a center section witha scalloped outer contour including a series of circumferentially spacedlobes and depressions therebetween, and a band of distortable, flexiblesubstance presenting under static conditions a cylindrical outer face,said band having an inner periphery complementary to said outer contourof the center section and intimately connected therewith along itsentire circumferential extent, the portions of the band in thedepressions be ing of greater mass than the portions on the lobes sothat the former portions bulge radially outwardly farther than thelatter portions pursuant to predetermined rotation of the wheel,whereupon said portions collectively develop an undulant peripheralmaterial grasping profile.

11. In a material attenuating apparatus a substantially rigid core, anannulus surrounding the core and compris-- ing an outer ring formed ofsoft flexible substance and an inner section of relatively hard rubberbonded directly to the core and having a scalloped outer contour bonded1 to a complementary inner face of said outer ring, said outer ringpresenting under static conditions an outer substantially cylindricalsurface.

12. In fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable, annu-: lar drawingelement comprising a substantially rigid core, a flowable annuluscircumscribing said core and bonded thereto and under static conditionspresenting a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and regularlycircum-- ferentially spaced cylindrical metallic bonded inserts withinsaid annulus intermediate the inner and outer peripheries thereof andoriented with their axes substantially parallel to the axis of rotationof the element.

13. In material attenuating apparatus, a pair of op posed, rotatable,flexible, resilient rolls, each roll statically presenting asubstantially cylindrical outer surface, the outer layer of each rollbeing formed of relatively thick readily distortable rubber with heaviermaterial embedded therein at regularly circumferentially spacedintervals, means for driving each roll whereby to expand said rubber toeffect a grasping action on material entered therebetween, the spacingof said heavier material of, each roll being arranged to enter betweenportions of the heavier material of the other roll at the areas ofcontact between the rolls.

14. In a glass fiber drawing element, a rotatable structure having aninner portion and an outer portion, said outer and inner portions unitedalong complementary interfitting contours, said outer portion comprisinga circumferentlally continuous ring presenting an endless;

continuous, material grasping face, said ring being formed of readilyexpansible and contractible substancej varying umfor'mly in radialthickness inwardly of said" face about the entire circumferential extentthereof and providing relatively thick sections and intervening thinsections, said thick sections characterized by difierent radialelongation than said thin sections attendant to operational rotation ofsaid structure whereby distorting the static contour of said substanceand undulating said ace.

15. For a glass fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable drawingstructure comprising an inner section and a peripheral circumscribingring thereabout presenting a generally cylindrical outer periphery understatic conditions, said ring being of flexible, expansible andcontractible substantially homogeneous material throughout, said ringand inner section having complementary interconnected mating surfaces,said ring having a first annular series of circumferentially spacedportions of predetermined radial depth arranged in alternatingrelationship with a second series of portions of substantially lesserradial depth, said first and second series of portions affordingrelatively different centrifugal displacement characteristics andcollectively adapted pursuant to rotation of the wheel, to distort thecylindrical outer periphery of the ring to an undulant fiber engagingcontour.

16. In a glass fiber attenuating apparatus, peripherally opposedco-operative rotatable drawing elements each having an integral outerannulus of readily deformable, expansible and contractible material,said elements being peripherally spaced from each other at adjacentregions under static conditions and defining a fiber-receiving gaptherebetween, said elements upon rotation at predetermined speedsefi'ecting expansion of the annuli thereof and thereby closing the gapand grasping the fiber entered therein upon said elements beingstatically disposed, each annulus having inner and outer continuousperipheries and each annulus having the material thereof continuousradially between said inner and outer peripheries about its entirecircumferential extent, and said annulus of each element constituted ofregularly spaced segments having certain elongation characteristics andintervening sections of relatively difierent centrifugal elongationcharacteristics radially of said elements under the influence ofcentrifugal forces attendant to rotation thereof and collectivelyadapted to develop a continuous undulant peripheral contour, and meansrotating said elements in phase relationship with each other to effectcomplementary mating of said undulant contours of respective elements atsaid regions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS437,208 Kinney Sept. 30, 1890 1,007,296 Larrabee Oct. 31, 1911 1,478,156Whitcomb Dec. 18, 1923 2,104,630 Zahn Ian. 4, 1938 2,389,655 Wende Nov.27, 1945

